Omaha daily bee., 1887-02-07
MANNING ON THE FISHERIES.
The Secretary Gives His Views to the Com
mittee on Foreign Affairs.
THE IDEA OF WAR DEPRecATeo'
An outline OF the Bill Submitted by
Him Empowering the President to
Protect Vessels OF the
United states.
Manninc's views ON the Fisheries.

Manninr's Views on the Eishrrics.
WAsutNGToN, Feb. 6.--Sccrctary Manning
has sent to Perry Belmont, chairman of
the house committee on foreign affairs, q
long and carefully prepared reply to the re-
quest OF that committee for his views with re-
gard to the house and senate retaliation bills,
and for any suggestions that he may desire to
make with reference thereto. The secretary
divides the subject to be considered into two
parts: first, the fishing rights of the United
States, and second, the commercial
rights of United States vessels in
Canadian ports. The rights of the former
class, he says, are defined by the treaties of
1888 and 1878 and 1--WE do not ask either of
Great Britain or Canada any other rights or
liberties of taking, drying or curing fish than
those stipulated in such treaties. In respect
to commercial privileges Tor our fishing ves-
sells in Canadian ports the situation is other
wiso Up to President Jackson's proclama-
ton of October ,, 1880, this government had
no commercial privileges for its vessels in
Canadian ports. We had such privileges as
colonists, we lost them as colonists. We re-
gained them in 1880 by an arrangement OF
legislation finally concerted with Great
Britain, which was the result of an interna..
tional understanding that was in elect
although not technically treaty"
The secretary then reviews at some length
the history of the relations between the gov
eminent of the United States and Great Brit
ain in this respect from 1888 to 1880. II am
not AWARE the secretary says, "ot any
treaty eXccpting the fishing clauses
of the treaty of ISIS and the tr eaty
OF 1871 or of any rule of International
laws binding on the United States which
now cOnstrain Great Britain to commercial
intercourse with ourselves in Canadian ports,
and, from the point OF view OF, TINS depart
ment, Great Britain can, if she deems it tor
her interest, or necessary for her safety,
retreat from the understandings and agree
ment of 1889. Whether such retreats there
from is to be deemed by us an UNI
friendly act will depend upon the
motives and environments
What we are now confronted by
is royal assent, given by the queen IN council
entitled AN act further to amend the act re-
spectng fisheries by foreign vessels" 1t
begins by reciting that it is eXpedicnt for the
more etlectual protection of the inshore fish
cries of Canada against intrusion by foreign
ers. The offensive si.nilicancc of the law is
in the fact that, by (what assume by law,
the statute establishing the Canadian union,
the governor general must, according
TO his discretion, but subject to
the queens instructions, either declare
that he assents in the queens name to the
lament or that he withbOlds tine queens
assent, or that he receives the bill for the
signitication of the queens pleasure The
last named alternative phrase was adopted in
dealing with tho Canadian laws OF 1856,
which peremptorily closes Canadian ports TO
our fishing vessels seeking TO trade, 1t em-
| powers any of the therein designated officials
| to bring to and search Americantyessels
| being within any Canadian harbor or
pleas pleas W / hat the treaty ti of isis per.
mitS and StipulateS for such legislation.
we deny, and reply that such legislation Is
the repeal and annulment by England of the
arrangement made in 1880, and to hat repeal
we are entitled to respond by q similar repeal
of law and nv n rpnpnl hnrpnttar
and while debate or NEGOTIATION goes, to con-
fer hospitality or any privileges whatever in
| our ports on Canadian vessels or boats of any
! sort. The violation OF the comfy may be
| looked uron AS an unfricndy act, but not
cause for Just war. England may judge
| fol herself OF the nature and extent of the
| comfy and courtesy she VIII show us. In
| pose retaliation; we simply respond that
| we too, will suspend comfy and hospitality.
| ! cannot believe that the government at
| London will persist in its present course un-
| less inspired for some occult reason by pur-
| pose to break friendly relations with our
| selves or unless under the will and at the
mercy of its colony"
| In Considering the bills presented to him
| Secretary Manning says that he is extremely
reluctant to discuss any bill which, after de-
| bate, has been adopted in the senate by
| vote Utmost unanimous, ana that lie does SO
only from the point of view of the head of
| the treasury department, to which
viii be committed the execution
of the proclamation issued by. the president
under the proposed measure if it shall be-
| come a law. IF he says "the senate bill
| shall become law and the president shall
| issue proclamation hereunder, besides
| putting an end to traffic, its effect Will be to
| exclude from importation Canadian free
| goods. such as certain kinds of fish, lumber,
| animals, etc, TO the amount OF about S25,OoO,-
| 900 annually, and also of reducing revenue
| by preventing the importation OF Canadian
| dutiable products, such as lumber, breadstutfs,
fish, etc, in annual value of say 2,O0O,-
| u0O-to the extent OF about c4,OO0OOO, which
| will be the probable duties collcctlble on
such goods during the present fiscal year il
| the present system of intercourse shall
continue" In conclusion Manning says; 1T
Is much to be regretted that mcdlaeval tarlif
| laws like that cruel legacy of the war which
! still encumbcrs the statute books of the
United States, or medieval non-intercourse
| policy like that of the Dominion OF Canada
threshold of her malestEs JubIlee year,
should be the divided disgrace OF our COM
| mon civilization.
| The following are the material points in
the draft of the bill submitted by the secre-
tary: The bill is entitled AN act TO enable
the president 10 defend and protect thG, rights
ana privileges of vessels, OF the United
| States" 1t sets forth the cause
for complaint and the necessity
for the proposed legislation, and
then goes on to proyipe that when The pTreSl-
United States are by British Canadian au-
thOritY denied any rights or privileges to
which they they are entitled he shall at hlss
discretion lawfully close by proclamation all
ports OF the United States against
AL vessels owned by or subject
to her 5rttanir majesty except such
as are in distress The vessels violating this
provision shall hc seized and forfeited. Per-
sons violating any PROCLAMATION made in
| pursuance of this ACT shall be deemed guilty
OF mSdrmeamor and on conviction thereof
shall hc hned not exceeding sl,OOJ or I'M
pIiSOnrd not exceeding two years, or
| lOtl. The Dill also IfONlltS lOl tilb
appointment OF a commissioner whose duty
shall he 10 rake testimony relative to losses and
injuries inflicted since December ~, So, Dy
British authorities upon citizens OF the United
STATES engaged N the fisheries on north coast
Of British North America.
Tho Dubuque Times Destroyed.
DUBUQuE, Ia, Feb, G.-Ihe Daily Times
Office was burned at an early hour this morn
ing. The lire caught from a stove in the
press room in the basement aud ran up the
! elevator shaft 10 the composing room IN the
| thud story, completely cutting the latter